3. Cleaning the House
The streets, houses, and gardens are gaily decorated with pine and bamboo, for the Japanese venerate both of
these, because they keep green through the entire winter, and are symbols of longevity. The Japanese begin to
prepare for New Year's about the middle of December. Even the very poorest people give their little houses a
thorough re-cleaning, laying new mats of rice straw and cleaning every nook and corner with fresh bamboo dusters,
symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. On the second of January the streets are brilliantly illuminated with
lanterns, and hung with the national flag and streamers of bunting, and the shrill calls of processions of
venders are heard everywhere.
